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Daniel D Cook

Research Plant Physiologist

 


    

Poisonous Plant Research Lab

1150 E 1400 N

Logan, UT 84341

(435)797-4024

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Education

 

    2004    PhD    Plant Biology; Michigan State University

    1998     BS     Crop Science; Utah State University

 

 

       

 

 

Research Interests

 

 

The objective of Dr. Cook's research is to describe the chemical ecology of plant toxins within the three major CRISprojects. The research of the incumbent is focused on five principal genera of plants and their toxins:Delphinium(norditerpene alkaloids), Lupinus (quinolizidine and piperidine alkaloids), Astragalus and Oxytropis (swainsonine), and Pinus(isocupressic acid). The influences of environmental, developmental, and genetic processes on toxin concentrations, synthesis, and subsequent risk of poisoning will be determined. The relationship between locoweeds (Astragalusand Oxytropisspp.) and a fungal endophyte responsible for the synthesis of the toxin swainsonine will be characterized.

 

 

 

 

Significant Accomplishments